Svetlana Kuznetsova has claimed her first victory since last summer's US Open by defeating Wang Qiang in straight sets at the BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup.
The Russian second seed prevailed 6-3 6-3, claiming her first victory since returning from a wrist injury in March.
"You can practice as much as you want, but nothing gets you better prepared like playing matches," Kuznetsova told the WTA Tour website.
"I've been practising a lot, but still when I came to the tour I was not quite ready. I played Indian Wells but I felt like I was out of shape.
"Physically, I was good, because I had trained, but I needed more matches."
Christina McHale defeated Mona Barthel 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 6-3 in the day's only other first-round encounter.
At the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, world No.18 Magdalena Rybarikova sailed through with a 6-2 6-2 win against Russia's Daria Kasatkina, who sits four places higher in the rankings.
The Slovakian's reward is a meeting with world No.1 Simona Halep in the second round.
